Free Counting Down by Lilah Boone Page B

about the information was oddly comforting to her as well. It was nice to know what was happening could be explained with science; measured and understood as being real and tangible instead of the product of some unseen, supernatural phenomenon.
    There was a lot of theory and opinion, but neither of them was sure of many facts. One of the few things they could both agree on as being concrete was that for some reason Kyle had more power, or whatever it could be called, than Abby did; most likely due to him having been using his abilities for much longer. He could see into the future further and with more regularity. He also seemed to feel their connection more strongly. But Kyle was quick to point out that they were both clearly in this together. For some reason they had both been chosen to have the knowledge to survive.
    Abby leaned back in her chair. “I think I know why my dreams only started recently.” She continued when Kyle looked over questioningly. “I have taken anti-depressants since right after I moved to New York. After we buried my mother.” She paused in momentary memory. “The first night I had a dream was the first night I didn’t take my pill.”
    Kyle showed interest. “Why did you stop taking them all of a sudden?”
    “Well it was the same night I broke up with Alex and things were weird. I just wanted to feel like a real person, someone who had normal emotions. I didn’t even cry over him.”
    “Maybe you didn’t love him.” Kyle eyed her, observing her reaction.
    Abby allowed herself a moment to think about that. Of course it was something she had considered herself. Maybe her relationship with Alex had simply been convenient. He was someone to spend time with; to have some kind of pseudo-intimacy with .
    “Honestly, if he hadn’t cheated on me I was probably going to cut him loose soon anyway.” She hesitated, looked down at her hands. “I’m not sure I’ve ever actually been in love with anyone. Everything I ever thought was real turned out to be something else.”
    “What did it turn out to be?”
    “I don’t know. But I never felt that special something, you know. I never felt really understood and cared for in some unconditional way.” She laughed bitterly. “Even to me that sounds stupid. I don’t even know what that would be like. If it’s real or just something I imagined love should be when I was a fanciful teenager.”
    She took a swig of soda, echoed that bitter laugh. “Up until recently I just figured that my experiences were the way things were supposed to be. People came together, got physical, and that was it. I had grown to think that can’t-live-without-you feeling was just a byproduct of fairy tales and paperback romances.”
    “I don’t think so.” Kyle’s face was thoughtful. “Maybe you just need someone to come along and woo you the right way.”
    Abby smiled and tried not to blush. She took another sip from her coke can and let herself fantasize about the idea of being wooed the right way by Kyle.
    They were becoming comfortable with each other very quickly. She had easily accepted that he simply knew her and she knew him. As odd as it was, regardless of how long or how little they had been aware of each other’s existence, they were steadily beginning to act like old friends who had only perhaps been apart for a while.
    Kyle got up to get them each another diet coke from the fridge. “I think whatever it is that’s coming is going to get here at the stroke of midnight on the twenty fir st.” Abby couldn’t hide her sho ck. Of course she believed him but s he had thought they would have more time to prepare and more time to figure out the answers to all of their questions.
    “You’re kidding?” She took the can from him and opened it. “That’s extremely specific. Are you sure it’s that exact time?”
    “Yeah, pretty sure. That’s what my gut is telling me plus it seems to be the date all the ancient prophecies point to. It’s foretold